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NEWTON RECREATION COMMISSION
DATE: Monday, April 28, 2014
TIME: 7:00PM
LOCATION: NEWTON TOWN HALL, 2 TOWN HALL ROAD
Meeting Minutes
- Call to Order: Chairperson Annie Collyer called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM.
- In Attendance: Annie; Matt Burrill, Selectman ex-officio; Sue Milner; John Neveux, and Brian Theirrien by phone.
- Introduction of Guests: none
- Approval of Minutes: Sue made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by John, no discussion, and passed unanimously
- Treasurer's Report: Annie introduced the Treasurer's report that she and Brian worked on. The report reflects not only actual expenses made, but also those that have been authorized by the Commission. John made a motion to accept the report, and make it a part of the minutes. Seconded by Sue, the motion passed unanimously.
Annie reported that we need to add a line item for travel at .$56 per mile. She traveled, as agreed by the Commission instead of the cost of shipping and risk of damage, 120 miles to Concord to pick up the 4' x 6' poster of Greenie Park now on display in Town Hall. John made a motion, seconded by Matt, to reimburse Annie $69.20 for travel expense, a new line item for the Rec budget. The motion passed unanimously.
Computer: $908: Annie presented the quote Mary Winglass generated for a new computer for Recreation. John made a motion, seconded by Matt, to purchase the computer from our 4520.00 313 line item for $908. The motion passed unanimously.
- Golf Tournament Fundraiser- door knocking, mailings, Transfer Station: John presented a check for $250 for a tee sponsorship from PestEnd. He has called on several other businesses and is waiting for responses. Sue has also made several calls and is also waiting for responses. Matt is working on obtaining a donation of tickets to a Patriots game for our live auction, to be combined with a limo. Annie said she is awaiting golf-cart sponsor Gibbs Construction's donor form, donating 100 yds of clean fill with a value of $900. She has called on a few businesses who have indicated they will also donate materials for renovations at Greenie, and has begun mailing to local businesses that are not located on the major roads. Brian will be calling on businesses, and has agreed to
take point on running the Golf Tournament.
We are still planning on fundraising at the Transfer Station in June. We will need to put together a goal for this year. Then Annie will contact the HS art department to see whether they can make a weather-resistant thermometer we can use at the Transfer Station and at Town Hall.
- April Vacation Event - raffle tix: John said only 14 people showed up. The commission discussed turnout, and agreed that we will no longer put on an April vacation event. There is too much else going on at that time of year. Sue suggested the idea of having two events perhaps during February vacation in the future.
- June Senior Event-: Sue has arranged for a bus with 47 seats, 2 of which are for wheelchairs. We have 47 seats, including two for wheelchairs, reserved at the North Shore Music Theatre. She has prepared a flyer and will place it around town, and place an article in the Carriage Towne News after the BOS approve our requisitions from the Senior Warrant Article budget. Annie has already put some notices on Facebook and Sue will do more once the BOS meets and endorses the June 4 plan for 'Anything Goes'.
We are subsidizing all but $15 per ticket for 34 tickets plus one chaperone. There are up to 12 other places on the bus and others-other seniors, non-seniors and non-residents- will be able to sign up for those spots at the group discount ticket cost of $41 each, and have no bus cost.
Sue made a motion, seconded by John, to spend not more than $125 for snacks and water for the bus. The motion passed unanimously. We have a quote from Walmart for $99.74. Annie will present this to the BOS on May 6.
- Adult Dinner/ Dance May 3- Promos, results so far, plaques, writeups: Annie made a motion to cancel the dinner on May 3, seconded by Matt and passed unanimously. Discussion followed about planning a substitute event. Annie is checking with Country Pond Fish and Game about availability. Sue wants to brainstorm ideas next meeting. Matt suggested the possibility of piggy-backing on Towne Day with an honoring ceremony for Mary Allen and Ray Thayer. Brian has ordered the plaques and the Commission will seek an appropriate venue for presentation.
- Memorial Day Parade - contact Kingston, VFW, Town Boards, Groups: Matt's email address was not correct and he now has the information to reach out to groups and boards in town. The parade typically convenes at 10:30 with coffee, water and donuts, and marches at 11, ending at the cemetery. Mary Winglass will help Matt with contacts, and Annie will send him some additional ones she finds in the Recreation Computer. Matt says the BOS is making progress on finding a Grand Marshall. Annie will see if Mary Jo can give her contact information of Vets in town to contact individually to invite to participate. Sue has agreed to do up the programs for the event, and Annie will send her past programs from the Rec computer if available.
- Halloween Party and Boy Scouts need to submit invoices: John emailed Rick Bailey about this, and has not yet heard back from him.
- Swim :Lesson Contract, Cost of Lessons, Publicity, Permit Update: Annie reviewed the YMCA contract for swim lessons, being reviewed by Town Counsel, and hopefully endorsed by the BOS next Tuesday. The lessons will be the same as those offered by the Y for $155, 2 x a week for 5 weeks. Sue made a motion, seconded by Matt, that we charge $50 per child for the lessons. This is less than in prior years, and we are able to offer this price due to the new out-sourcing of the lessons. The motion passed unanimously.
Annie updated the Commission on the permit amendment application: The old permit was for a swim area 75' x 100'. The buoys in use for many years are for an area 100' x 200', enclosing the swim raft. The amendment was submitted to NH Marine in October 2013, and Annie has asked them to schedule the needed site visit for approval asap, now that we have ice-out. She is waiting to hear back.
- Trails Update- Signage, BMX: Annie said that Tyler, a student at Sanborn, is progressing on his Senior project to make the signs and a trail map of the Greenie trails. The next step is his invoice for materials, and then he will do them. The invoice will have to be approved by the Commission, and then by BOS. We will recommend a citation by the BOS for him when this project is completed.
While many, including John, think a BMX trail will be a great addition, planning on how to accommodate horses, hikers and BMXers will have to be done.
- Town Day: Cathy Nikola was ill tonight and not able to attend. It is hoped that she will be able to take on primary responsibility for Towne Day. We plan to hold this in conjunction with the Memorial 5 K Race September 20. Annie has spoken with Melissa of the PTO and we are planning on building on what Jessica Brasier put together last year. The pie-eating contest and the baking contest did not receive wide participation, so Annie recommends abandoning them. Contacting town boards and groups to set up table with games and information, getting a DJ, and helping with some of the expenses are most of the job. In addition, Mellissa passed on the idea of having a townwide yard sale, at peoples' homes, on that day. We could charge a $10 fee to be listed on a map for
the Town Day weekend.
- Greenie Park: Annie has been pursuing getting some quotes for electrical, security cameras, tree removal, and plumbing. She spoke with Ron King of Natural Playgrounds as well.
The Commission has agreed that the first steps we can pursue are the separation of the skate park and the playground area, and moving the batting cage in July after baseball season. One wish expressed by town residents is for expanded parking, possible to the side of the parking lot. Sue questioned whether expanded parking is a priority, since there are only a few times a year where the lot is overfull, but most of the time the parking is adequate.
Sue also said that while security is important, should this be a Recreation issue? Perhaps security cameras should come from the police, safety or town improvements budgets. Annie will discuss this with the BOS on May 6, and will request that Chief Streeter and someone from the Safety Commission be present as well. Annie has a preliminary quote from a security company to install the cameras, and Diane Morin's company may possibly contribute or discount cameras.
Sue stated that she thinks the best bang for the money we have and will be raising is to put in the play ground and beautify the park. The first playground project is the main play and sliding hill, estimated to cost about $35,000 complete, by Natural Playgrounds. The more materials we have donated, the lower the cost.
A student is also preparing a Senior project for next year to put in walkways per the master plan on either side of the skatepark. He is interested in a BMX trail as well, as is Kevin Donegan.
Annie spoke with Ron King of Natural Playgrounds today, and he said that construction drawings are not needed. His construction crew can do the main hill with the master plan, as can others if they know what they are doing. Ron will speak with whomever we go with when the time comes to give guidance. We will need to get the main hill area printed on blueprints when we are ready to bid and proceed with that part of the plan.
- Preparation for BOS presentation May 6: Annie will add the issues of security and of how often Len will be emptying trash at the Town Beach to her discussion planned with the BOS. John would like a key to the dumpster so that he can also empty the trash when he is there, which is frequently.
- Announcements : None
- Other Business: Matt has arranged for the Red Sox World Series trophy to come to Newton on Wednesday July 16 from 3-5 PM. We discussed possible display at Town Hall, with BYOC- Bring Your Own Camera. Brian offered to have it on display at Camp Tasker from 3- 3:45, with the Haverhill Boys and Girls Club making a contribution to the Town for $500, supplying a photographer, and opening Camp Tasker to the public for that time, followed by the trophy moving to Town Hall with $5 access, as a possibility. John asked Brian how much parking is available at Camp Tasker, and Brian said there is room for 100-125 cars. He will also speak with the police about parking on the road. Brian said perhaps hotdogs and hamburgers could be made available at the Camp as well. Discussion was
tabled until our next meeting.
Matt suggested we check with Plaistow on lessons learned when they had the trophy visit, and Annie will call the Plaistow Recreation Director.
- Correspondence: none
- Adjournment at 8:25 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Annie Collyer,
Secretary
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